Green pool cleanup in Tampa
A Tampa pool can go from clear to green in three days of August rain, and every day it sits green the algae digs further into the plaster. Call, tell us how bad it is, and a technician comes out to get it turning around.
When to call now
- The water went from cloudy to green over a weekend
- Dark spots on the walls or steps that brush off and come back
- You can't see the main drain
- The pool sat untreated during a vacation or a move
- Mosquito larvae in the water
- Black algae spots that feel rough and won't brush away
What to do before the technician arrives
- Keep the pump running. Circulation and filtration are doing half the work. If the pump won't run, that comes first.
- Skim out leaves and debris. Anything organic in the water is feeding the algae. Pull out what you can reach.
- Don't dump random chemicals in. Mixing products from the garage makes the water harder to read and sometimes harder to fix.
- Keep people and pets out. Green water hides steps, depth changes and whatever has sunk to the bottom.
How a cleanup goes
Water test and assessment
Testing the water and judging whether the pool can be treated in place or needs to be drained.
Shock and algaecide
Chlorine at the level the algae load needs, with brushing so it reaches the walls and steps.
Filter cleaning
Cartridges cleaned or sand and DE filters backwashed repeatedly as the dead algae loads them up.
Vacuuming to waste
Pulling the settled debris out of the pool instead of back through the filter.
Drain and acid wash
For pools that are black or have been green for months, draining and washing the surface is faster and cheaper than weeks of chemicals.
Balance and handoff
Water brought back to safe ranges, with the option of weekly service so it doesn't happen again.
What affects the price
- How green it is. A light green pool is a few visits; a black one may need draining.
- Pool size and whether it's screened.
- Filter type and whether the media needs replacing.
- Whether a drain and acid wash is needed, and the water bill that comes with refilling.
You get the price for your job before any work starts.
Why Tampa pools go green so fast
Summer here is the perfect algae recipe: water in the high 80s, daily rain that dilutes the chlorine, phosphates washing in from the lawn, and oak pollen on every unscreened pool. A pump that quietly stopped is the most common story behind a green pool, since nobody notices until the water turns.
Draining a pool in Tampa has its own rules. Florida's high water table, especially near the bay and in parts of Pasco, can pop an empty pool out of the ground, so the technician checks the hydrostatic relief valve and the season before anyone pulls the plug.
Common questions
How long does it take to clear a green pool?
A light green pool usually clears in three to five days with daily attention. A dark green or black pool can take a week or more, or a day if it's drained and acid washed.
Should I just drain it?
Sometimes, but not on your own. Draining a pool in Tampa's water table can lift the shell out of the ground. Let the technician decide.
Can I swim once it looks clear?
When the chlorine and pH are back in range and you can see the drain clearly. Clear isn't the same as safe.
Why did it turn green when the pump was running?
Usually a filter that's clogged or channeled, a timer running too few hours, or a chlorinator that ran empty.
Related services
Areas we serve
Green pool cleanup across Tampa and these nearby communities: